Seoul, South Korea (CNN) - President Barack Obama used his first visit to the demilitarized zone that splits the Korean peninsula to peer through binoculars into North Korea where flags flew at half-staff to mark the 100-day anniversary of the death of Kim Jong Il.
The stop at the border Sunday marked the start of a three-day trip to South Korea where the American president is to attend an international nuclear summit.
Top officials from 54 countries including China and Russia will attend the summit. But its message of international cooperation has been overshadowed by North Korea's announcement last week that it is planning to carry out a rocket-powered satellite launch in April.

President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit the demilitarized zone that splits the Korean Peninsula in two for the first time on Sunday.

His planned visit to the heavily fortified border is part of a three-day trip to South Korea to participate in a summit meeting about nuclear security in Seoul.

Top officials from 54 countries including China and Russia will attend the summit meeting next week, but its message of international cooperation has been overshadowed by North Korea's announcement last week that it is planning to carry out a rocket-powered satellite launch in April.

The President and Mrs. Obama will host His Excellency President Lee Myung-bak and Mrs. Kim Yoon-ok for a State Dinner on the night of October 13th, 2011. The State Dinner will be held in the East Room of the White House. White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford and White House Executive Pastry Chef William Yosses have constructed the evening’s menu using local ingredients, including produce grown in the White House Kitchen Garden.

A Fall Harvest Dinner
The Korea State Dinner Menu is a celebration of an early Fall Harvest. Last week, on October 5, the First Lady and local students from Tubman and Bancroft Elementary Schools in Washington, DC worked together to harvest vegetables in the White House Kitchen Garden as part of Mrs. Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative. Vegetables from that harvest are highlighted in this evening’s dinner and perennial herbs from the garden are used throughout the meal.

Local Menu Selection
The first course, Butternut Squash Bisque, represents the best in local, seasonal fare: the dish is light yet robust and features the scents of fall. It includes squash from the White House Kitchen Garden and honey from the White House beehive. The Early Fall Harvest Salad, featuring daikon sheets and masago rice pearl crispies, is a nod to Korean traditions, and includes greens from the White House Kitchen Garden. The main dish features wagyu beef from a Texas ranch, fresh kale from a DC-area source and squash from the White House Kitchen Garden. The dessert features a classic recipe of chocolate cake layered with a harmonious blend of Korean and American pears.

The state visit for the President and the First Lady of the Republic of Korea begins Thursday. Besides high level meetings between the two leaders, First Lady Michelle Obama will bring her counterpart to a school in Northern Virginia and an elegant state dinner is planned.

Here is a great story from CNN Producer Larry Lazo about forging diplomatic ties on another level.

Establishing goodwill and building on an already strong foundation. That was the motive behind the "Taste of Korea" event in Washington.

A number of activities were held to help foster better understanding between Korean and American cultures. Youngsters enjoyed everything from a cooking lesson and arts and crafts to live music and a martial arts demonstration.

Twenty middle school students from Alice Deal Middle School in Washington were invited to the festivities. They were joined by twenty Korean American students – all of them children of employees of the Embassy of Korea.

MR. BURTON: As you know, the President is outraged by these actions. And as we said in the statement earlier today, we stand shoulder to shoulder with our ally in South Korea. And as the President said in Korea, we're fully committed to their defense.

Our condolences go to the victims of this attack. And we'll be working with South Korea and the international community in coming days on the best way forward in securing peace and stability in the region.

The President will speak with President Lee at some point soon. They’re still working out the time at which they talk.

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OTR

Category: Thing

Some presidential movements are OTR, or off-the-record, to the public and press until the president's motorcade arrives at the previously undisclosed location.